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    Home >> Turkish

    Turkish Orange and Onion Salad

    Published: July 5, 2015 • Modified: June 6, 2022 • by Author: Analida • Word count:559 words. • About 3 minutes to read this article. • This post may contain affiliate links.

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    a white plate with turkish orange and onion salad with olives and mint leaves

    Jump to:
    • Summer Salad
    • Dish Origins
    • Orange History
    • Turkish Orange and Onion Salad Recipe

    Summer Salad

    Orange and onion salad is what you've been waiting for. This Turkish orange and onion salad is a great addition to any summer menu. It's light, refreshing, and a nice deviation from the usual greens. Bonus, no heavy or processed dressings. The simple dressing of olive oil, and herbs doesn't overshadow the sweetness of the oranges. I love this salad!

    Dish Origins

    Portakal Salatsi aka Orange Salad is the Turkish name for this dish. Portakal is derived from Portugal. What's the connection? Well, at one point in time the best oranges came from Portugal. Oranges were famous. So famous that Arabs changed the name from naranj to porteghal. Interestingly enough, the word for orange in Spanish is naranja. This word comes from an old Sanskrit term naga ranga. Similar words are fascinating! By the way... my Puerto Rican friend told me oranges are called chinas in Puerto Rico.

    Orange History

    Oranges likely originated in Malaysia (SE Asia). They made their way to China around 2200 B.C. The emperor often received oranges. People admired oranges for their medicinal properties and the aromatic value of their essential oils.

    Eventually, oranges made it to Europe via the Silk Road traders. By the end of the second century A.D. they featured at the lavish banquets of the Roman aristocracy. Christopher Columbus brought oranges to the New World. He planted the first orange tree in the Americas. The first American plantation of oranges was in St. Augustine, Florida. Later, during the gold rush in California, certain unscrupulous doctors made a hefty profit by selling orange juice to scurvy afflicted prospectors. The dose? A spoonful!

    a top dow view of a white plate with turkish orange and onion salad with forks on the top

    Needless to say, this orange salad goes perfect with grilled kebabs or any other grilled meat for that matter. Take it to your next picnic, and your friends will love you for bringing Turkish food. Or, enjoy it as a quick side to a weeknight meal. It's a great and delicious way to get your vitamin C.

    Now, orange you glad I posted this recipe? Sorry, I could not resist!

    This recipe was adapted from the book "The Complete Book of Turkish Cooking" by Ghillie Basan

    Looking for more recipes?  
    Sign up for my free recipe newsletter to get new recipes in your inbox each week!  You can also find me sharing more inspiration in Pinterest and Facebook

    A photo of Turkish orange and onion salad or portakal salatsi on a white plate.
    5 from 9 votes
    Print

    Turkish Orange and Onion Salad Recipe

    Turkish or Portakal Salatsi orange and onion salad goes perfect with grilled kebabs or any other grilled meat for that matter. Take it to your next picnic, and your friends will love you. This has a nice contrast of flavors of sweet and savory. 

    Course Salad
    Cuisine Turkish
    Keyword fresh ingredients, healthy, low calorie, low fat, sweet and savory
    Prep Time 30 minutes
    Cook Time 1 minute
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings: Change to adjust-> 6 servings
    Calories 108 kcal
    Author Analida Braeger

    Ingredients

    • 3 oranges cut into slices ( sweet naval oranges work nicely)
    • 1 red onion sliced thin
    • 8 Kalamata olives
    • ½ tsp Kosher salt

    Dressing:

    • 3 Tbsp olive oil
    • ¼ tsp thyme
    • ¼ tsp oregano
    • ¼ tsp sumac
    • 6 mint leaves for garnish

    Instructions

    1. Peel the oranges and remove the surrounding pith.
    2. Slice oranges to a thickness of ¼" and place on a large serving platter.
    3. Slice onion thinly. Place in a container and sprinkle with salt. Allow them to sit for about 10 minutes.
    4. Place onions on top of the sliced oranges. Scatter the olives on top.
    5. To prepare the dressing: In a small bowl whisk together olive oil,thyme, and oregano
    6. Drizzle over oranges.
    7. Serve with a sprinkling of sumac, and mint garnish.
    Nutrition Facts
    Turkish Orange and Onion Salad Recipe
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 108 Calories from Fat 63
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 7g11%
    Saturated Fat 1g6%
    Sodium 277mg12%
    Potassium 145mg4%
    Carbohydrates 9g3%
    Fiber 2g8%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Vitamin A 210IU4%
    Vitamin C 36.5mg44%
    Calcium 36mg4%
    Iron 0.2mg1%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

     

    Turkish Portakal Salatsi: A salad with orange, onion, thyme, sumac and mint. | ethnicspoon.com

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    500 shares
    • 20

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Derek

      July 08, 2015 at 4:27 pm

      This looks fantastic! Thanks for the recipe!

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 08, 2015 at 6:48 pm

        You are welcome Derek!

        Reply
    2. Joann Woolley

      July 14, 2015 at 12:06 am

      This combination looks beautiful and it sounds good too. I am pinning to my salad board!

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 14, 2015 at 4:21 pm

        Thanks Joann!!

        Reply
    3. Faye Wilkerson

      July 15, 2015 at 11:52 am

      I have never added olives to my orange salad, but I think it will be a great addition.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 15, 2015 at 8:31 pm

        Thanks, I think so. It also looks pretty!!

        Reply
    4. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life

      July 16, 2015 at 12:31 am

      What a lovely salad! The combination sounds wonderful...definitely something I would like!

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 17, 2015 at 8:27 pm

        Thanks Michelle. Try it out. It is so refreshing.

        Reply
    5. Hirra Pervaiz

      July 16, 2015 at 1:27 am

      What a delightful salad, This is great for summers.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 17, 2015 at 8:27 pm

        Indeed it is Hirra. It is so refreshing!

        Reply
    6. Sarah

      July 17, 2015 at 8:35 pm

      Wow! Gorgeous photography and a mouth-watering recipe. Thanks for linking up to Blogger Brags. I've pinned your post to the Blogger Brags Pinterest board.

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 18, 2015 at 7:19 pm

        Thanks Sarah. It is a great recipe. Thanks for pinning!!

        Reply
    7. Shirley Wood

      July 19, 2015 at 4:59 am

      What a wonderful combination of flavors for a nice summer dish! I'm going to feature this recipe at the new Merry Monday party starting Sunday night. So glad you shared with us at Merry Monday!

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 19, 2015 at 6:41 am

        Thanks so much Shirley!!! I so appreciate it.

        Reply
    8. Megan @ C'mon Get Crafty

      July 19, 2015 at 8:01 pm

      Ok, well, the title didn't' sell me, but the pictures sure did! Wow, that looks amazing! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday, and can't wait to see what you link up this week!

      Reply
      • Analida

        July 20, 2015 at 11:28 am

        You're welcome Megan. Do you have any suggestions for a better title?
        🙂

        Reply
    9. Kristen @ A Mind Full Mom

      February 17, 2016 at 7:36 am

      I love the sweet and salty combo here! Fabulous flavor achieved!

      Reply
      • Analida

        February 17, 2016 at 7:45 pm

        Thanks Kristen!

        Reply
    10. Denise Wright

      February 17, 2016 at 1:16 pm

      This combination of the oranges and olives and onions intrigues me. I love that you always have a history lesson in your posts!

      Reply
      • Analida

        February 17, 2016 at 7:42 pm

        Thanks Denise. I love history! It's so much fun to do research on food items and food traditions. I am glad you like the history bit.

        Reply
    11. Analida

      February 17, 2016 at 7:45 pm

      KC, sumac has a really tangy flavor. It's what used by the Romans before the Arabs brought citrus to Europe. You can get sumac at http://www.penzeys.com I like to sprinkle a little sumac on my hummus. I also recently had dinner at an Arab restaurant and my tilapia came with a little sumac sprinkled on top.

      Reply
    12. Caroline

      February 17, 2016 at 8:08 pm

      Simple and tasty - always good! I've made something similar and it was delicious.

      Reply
      • Analida

        February 19, 2016 at 3:23 pm

        Thanks Caroline. Yes, it is so easy.

        Reply
    13. Jade @ Jonesin' For Taste

      February 18, 2016 at 12:13 am

      I love how simple this is but out of the ordinary as well!

      Reply
      • Analida

        February 19, 2016 at 3:16 pm

        Thanks Jade! Yes, it is a bit unusual.

        Reply
    14. Gloria

      April 30, 2018 at 8:37 pm

      5 stars
      I always love when simple ingredients come together to create something so delicious. This is perfect for hot weather eating. Sounds refreshing and so easy.

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 01, 2018 at 6:22 pm

        Gloria, this is indeed a unique dish. It is really refreshing. I think you will like it. It's a perfect accompaniment to anything from the grill. Thank you so much for the 5 star rating.

        Reply
    15. Amanda Mason

      April 30, 2018 at 11:07 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so good and so unique! I love it! I love that this is low in carbs, too! Love the origination story....all that history is so interesting! Thanks for posing such a unique and yummy recipe!

      Reply
    16. Kate

      May 02, 2018 at 4:46 pm

      Oh my, what a beautiful little salad! So perfect for a summer starter salad. I can't wait to try this. The sweet orange and the salty olives sound so good together!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 04, 2018 at 5:13 pm

        Kate, this salad is perfect for any summer picnic. The contrast of flavors is amazing. I hope you get to try it soon.

        Reply
    17. dixya @food, pleasure, and health

      May 03, 2018 at 2:20 pm

      i have never heard of this salad but absolutely digging the use of herbs!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 04, 2018 at 5:12 pm

        Thanks Dixya. It is really tasty.

        Reply
    18. Andrea

      May 05, 2018 at 2:17 am

      This is such a perfect salad for this time of the year, the ingredients combo sounds just about amazing!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 06, 2018 at 6:56 am

        Thanks Andrea. I think you will like it. Yes, the mixture of ingredients is fabulous.

        Reply
    19. Madi

      May 05, 2018 at 8:04 am

      5 stars
      This is such a gorgeous salad! I love the combination of flavors!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 06, 2018 at 6:57 am

        Hi Madi, thanks for the compliment, and for the 5 star rating. I think you would like it. Yes, the combo of colors is lovely as well as the taste. 🙂

        Reply
    20. Leslie

      May 06, 2018 at 7:37 am

      So simple! I was looking for a side dish for some grilled steaks tonight, and I think this is the winner!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 06, 2018 at 9:29 am

        Hi Leslie! Glad you found a side dish for your steaks. I hope you enjoy it. 🙂

        Reply
    21. Michelle

      May 06, 2018 at 2:01 pm

      5 stars
      What a lovely fresh salad, I've tried olives with oranges before so will definitely have to try this!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 06, 2018 at 4:24 pm

        Hi Michelle! Thanks for the 5 star rating. I hope you like this salad.The flavors are so fresh, and I love the colors. I am all about pretty food. 🙂

        Reply
    22. Anne Murphy

      May 06, 2018 at 4:47 pm

      5 stars
      That sounds delightful! Wonderful contrast in flavors, and so refreshing on a hot day!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 07, 2018 at 11:39 am

        Thanks for the 5 star rating Anne. Indeed, the contrast of flavors is amazing, as is the contrast of colors. A feast for the eyes, and palate in my opinion. 🙂

        Reply
    23. Kim @ Berly's Kitchen

      May 06, 2018 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      I love how simple this salad sounds! It's so pretty, too. Some of the least amount of ingredients yield the biggest flavors. This is going on my "to try" list. 🙂

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 07, 2018 at 11:41 am

        Kim you are absolutely right, the least amount of ingredients can yield amazing flavors. Thank you for the 5 star rating. I hope you get to try it soon. 🙂

        Reply
    24. Amy Treasure

      May 06, 2018 at 7:08 pm

      5 stars
      This recipe has so many of my favourite ingredients but I would never have thought of putting them together in one dish. Genius! i will try it 🙂

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 07, 2018 at 11:33 am

        Hi Amy. I hope you get to try this salad. It is so unique, and refreshing. Let me know how you like it . Thank you so much for the 5 star rating.

        Reply
    25. Femi. O

      May 06, 2018 at 7:33 pm

      5 stars
      Ooo this flavor combo looks amazing and it especially because this salad combines some of my favorite things (oranges and onion) in the kitchen, I can already imagine how good it tastes. This one actually had me drooling. I totally intend to try this!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 07, 2018 at 11:36 am

        Hi Femi. Thanks for you comment. I think if you like oranges, and onions, you will love this salad. It is so refreshing. It is one of my favorite side dishes, especially during the warm weather months. By the way, thank you for the 5 star rating.

        Reply
    26. Matt Kearns

      May 06, 2018 at 10:34 pm

      5 stars
      I love how simple this salad is! I love oranges and this dish is calling my name!

      Reply
      • Analida

        May 07, 2018 at 11:38 am

        Hi Matt. thanks so much for the 5 star rating. I hope you get to try this dish, especially now that the warm weather is upon us, finally.

        Reply
    27. Stosh Dlugolenski

      October 28, 2019 at 9:15 am

      Wow!! The olives and oranges create a most delicious flavor, came upon this yesterday and made it. Fantastic

      Reply

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    Analida profile pictureI have been researching and creating ethnic recipes for over 20 years. I love to share "mostly healthy" easy and affordable ethnic recipes using fresh ingredients, with a bit of culture and food history sprinkled in.... Read more-->

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